Concepts, processes and procedures: An introduction to the special issue on integration of concrete operating procedures.

Mahrer (1989b) described integration on the basis of concrete operating procedures as one of the more promising approaches to psychotherapy integration. In an attempt to examine this integrative approach, therapists from a variety of theoretical orientations were invited to share examples of how they had integrated into their preferred therapeutic approach interventions that were originally developed outside that framework. The articles in this special section provide illustrations of integration of specific procedures into four different theoretical frameworks. Although the articles discuss the incorporation of a wide variety of different types of interventions, as a group they suggest (a) that therapist operating procedures are understood more in terms of providing resources for an active collaborating client than as creating an impact upon the client, (b) that all therapist activities including procedures aimed at achieving problem resolution instantiate the therapeutic relationship, thus blurring the distinction between working on the relationship and working on client issues, and (c) that it is both possible and valuable for therapists to be flexible and creative in integrating new procedures into their therapeutic work. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)